OSDH Deploys Mobile Wellness Vans Statewide

The Oklahoma State Department of Health has deployed mobile wellness units statewide. OSDH said the vans bring vital health services to underserved communities.

The vans currently administer COVID-19 vaccines but within a couple of weeks, the state department of health is expanding their services.

From a lack of access to transportation barriers, OSDH has noticed certain parts of Oklahoma are being left behind when it comes to routine health care.

“The main thing is that we are wanting to take public health services out to all parts of Oklahoma,” said Jan Fox, the District Two Regional Director.

“We’re looking at particularly some areas that don’t have a local health department or we know of other areas where there just isn’t a doctor’s office or hospital anywhere close so these folks if they have to seek care are having to drive a couple of hours,” said Andrea Smith, a Canadian County Nurse Practitioner.

With COVID-19 relief funding OSDH now has nine mobile wellness vans that provide COVID-19 vaccines to the nine health care districts. Each district has one large unit and two small vans.

“We want to be visible to any organization that is doing any kind of planning, but we are also takin it upon ourselves to find venues. We want to go to schools, parks, all different types of community events,” said Fox.

Soon, people will be able to get physicals, health screenings, women’s wellness checks and more.

“WIC, nutrition services, family planning, those types of services,” said Fox.

Smith, who is providing services for district two said these services have been needed for years.

“Currently they are free services, I think they are working to make them more of a sliding-scale clinic,” she said.

To find out where these wellness vans are going to be, visit OSDH's website or the Canadian County Health Department Facebook page.